University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

Even though I am barely halfway through my college experience, I can certainly say that I have gotten so much out of it already. I grew up always being told that education is key to success, and at the University of Virginia, I see that success in my life already being built. There are an endless amount of opportunities for me here at UVA, and I am unbelievably gratful that I am able to attend such a wonderful University! My college experience also has made me realize, though, being a college student is no walk in the park. In order to achieve my life long goal of becoming a physician, I need to work EXTREMELY hard! But academic habits are not the only thing college teaches you. I have learned life skills that I never really crossed my mind until I found myself a good 160 miles about from home living on my own. Attending college, for me, is something very valuable that I do not take for granted by any means. Not only am I learning what it takes to be a prospective medical student, but also what is required of me as a person in general.

I am in the process of finding out who and what I want to be for the rest of my life. College is a stepping stone that is preparing and bringing me into the real world. I believe it is extremely valuable to go to college even though it cost so much money. It will bring me life long friends, an experience that no one can replace and of course most importantly an education.

The college experience has let me grow as a person, expand my mind, and truly interact with others. The University of Virginia provides me with the perfect balance of school and fun. After only a month and a half attending this school, I have bonded incredibly with my fellow classmates and continue to do so each and every day. The myriad of activities provided and events planned is mind boggling. I know that I will truly never be bored here. I can already tell that many of the people I have met here will undoubtedly be lifelong friends. The learning atmosphere here is also astounding. UVa provides so many resources that allow the student to keep up with the courseload and really learn the material. My professors are always approachable and helpful, and even the TAs are great! I have learned an incredible amount in only the few weeks I have been here. I know that when I graduate from this university, I will be prepared to take on the real world. The University of Virginia has provided me with the ultimate college experience, and that is something I value above all else.

Attending college has been one of the best decisions in my life. First and foremost, I am receiving an education that will allow me to have a successful career later in life. I have been exposed to limitless opportunities to get involved in volunteering, interning, and socializing. Independence is an inevitable aspect of college, I have been able to learn so much about myself, separate from my parents' influence. Coming to the University has also created an immense sense of accountability now that it is my responsibility to get to classes on time, turn in assignments, and contact teachers for appointments and guidance. Since I attend a liberal arts college, I have been able to study subjects that I had never even heard of in high school. Outside of class, as a member of the Greek life on campus, I have been able to get involved with several philanthropies as well as make connections with a network of employers and businesses. I feel that I have a promising future ahead of me, due to the experiences and preparation that this University has provided for me.

Though I am still early in my college experience, I have gained much knowledge and value from being exposed to myriad and varied people, professors, topics and experiences. Knowledge can be gained through books but college is about the experience in totality and how you emerge as a person at the end of the process. By taking advantage of all resources, activities and opportunities the potential for growth and enlightenment are practically limitless. Thus far I have immersed myself in my campus in an attempt to retain as much of this value as possible in these four years; there will be no other time in my life with so much freedom and opportunities and limited financial responsibilites and general obligations and I plan to continue making the most of this time. Carpe diem!

:) greatness

BANG, BANG, BANG! The gavel thumps as it hits the desk at the Washington Literary and Debating Society’s 3rd meeting. As I sit there, listening to one of the other members read poetry from Jalaluddin Rumi, I think back to my first days at UVa. I was a completely different person. When I arrived at the University I was Christian (like my parents), conservative (like my parents), and a carnivore (like my parents). Those first months at UVa changed me profoundly. I took classes on classical Islam, Nietzsche, and art, I met people from other countries and I talked animatedly with people of differing opinions, and I grew as a person and a student. My outlook on life shifted and I started to think about my choices in a way I’d never thought to do before. I started to swing to the left, lose my faith in God, and discover the majesty of a plant based diet. This school has not only given me a great education, it has changed my life and me significantly and for the better.

Academically, UVa pushed me further in my first year than I ever thought possible. I worked really hard, but I did so because I wanted to. I had small, intimate class settings with 15 people and large lectures too. But all in all, my professors were wonderful and always willing to talk to students. Even Professor Sabato, who has plenty of other things to do, welcomes students to have conversations with him. It should also be noted that you don't have to go Greek to have a good time!

I have gotten a lot out of the short college career I have had. I have learned much about honor, rigerous education, and success. Honor is something that only you should know about. You should be able to look at yourself in the eye and know you are being the best person you can be. The education has taught me that nothing is impossible. Though it is hard at times, the amount of learning and work will prepare me well for the real world. The greates lesson I have learned is about success. I have learned that success is not about getting straight A's. It is about doing your best everyday. This is because it is better to try with your best effort and fail, rather than not try at all. I'd rather give my best and fail at something, than cheat and get an A.

I learned about many different cultures attending the university of Virginia. Our curriculum required us to take a certain number of cultural classes like Art History, Eastern Religion, Western Religion, European History, women's literature, etc. I took a course in Eastern Religion which exposed me to the culutres and beliefs of all different nationalities of the region. I found it fascinating how very different and sometimes how very similar certain belief systems could be. I also took a women's literature course called, "Japanese Women's Literature". This delved into the very reserved and oppressed lifestyle's lived by Asian cultures in previous centuries, particularly focusing on those of the women who seemed to suffer the most oppression and lack of personal expression. I felt like I had been opened up to a whole new world, where I could better understand the people of different cultures and societies. These courses made my education rich and well rounded. I not only learned the practical studies that are typical of college, but also the cultural courses that beautify the unique societies of the world.

I have often thought that some of the classes that are required by my college are pointless. I am majoring in business. Seriously, why do I need to take biology, history, statistics, psychology, and philosophy courses? Will I ever have to remember the parts of the kidneys, the pharoahs of Egypt, hypthesis test statistic formulas, how the brain develops, or how Descartes differed from Marx? The answer is probably not. However, what I have found about taking these courses is that they have molded me into a more well-rounded person. I have taken something more valuable than factual information from each of these classes. Philosophy broadened my mind and showed me that there are always different ways to think about things. Biology showed me that the world is complex. I even had math professor who truly thought that doing math was greater than or equal to having a party. His passion has shown me the greatest lesson of all: to find something that I love and stick with it. It is not the facts that you learn that is important in college. The important thing is what you get out of each class.

"I don't know how to wash my own clothes". "Mom can I have some money?", "Can I go out tonight?" . These were all things that I was saying before I came to college but now, things have changed, and I have made a FULL 360. In high school I had no clue what exactly i was getting into when I was headed for college. One word, "responsibility". Being in school made me take on my own responsibilities and is helping me learn necessary things for when ill be out there on my own. I have high hopes. I dream above the clouds. I love life, and i also love college. I wouldn't take back any lessons learned since i've been here and will definitely continue to take everything in because of course...college is a learning experience, but in the long run, you learn way more than just textbook information.

My college experience has allowed me to explore, experience and affirm just how strong, resilient and focused my will power can be when it comes to pursuing my dreams, passion and ambitions for the future. UVA was a dream for me to atttend given their prestigious Virginia Ivy league status, excellent professors, broad curriculum along with diverse co-curricular activities and bright motivated students. My college journey has taught me to always strive for the best and to never doubt your strenghts and optimism; even for a second. Those are the sole factors to keep you motivated to pursue your highest ideal and dreams. College was also about letting go of life and letting life find you in unexpented arenas; it was through this unexpectedness that one can really learn what they are capapble of and where their values lie. It prepares you to face more unexpented challenges as life progresses and to know that you are always going to be prepared to handle anything life throws at you from different angles. My college was a great training ground for me and because of my affirmed confidence in myself; I am positive that I can handle anything in the future.

I have learned a lot from my college experience. I have learned how to correctly right papers, how to properly pronounce words and right sentences. Also I have learned alot about the mind and this will help with obtaining my degree in physcology. When I attended college I was not motivated to do much with my life. In addition now that I am in college I have motivate myself to finish college and I want to pursue further education. Further more I am setting a good example for my children and this is the main reason I am motivated to finish college. I believe by me going to college my kids will do the same and go to college when they get older.I am a single parent and I only pray that my kids follow my lead and go to college. I never thought I would get this far because I waited a long time to go to college . Now that I am in college and I love it. I will tell anyone to pursue there dream and go to college; it does not matter how old they are it will only make there life better.

My college experience has been great so far, I have learned a lot in class and out. The people I have met here are going to be my life long friends and I have so many ways to get involved in the community and in the college campus. I have taken very interesting classes which really let me decide what I want to do in my life.

I haven't went to college yet ,but would like to enroll .I lost my job in November and would like to get an education to better myself and to set a good example for my children.I am very dependable and maybe missed one day of work in two years.i was laways on time for my job and take pride in most every thing I do.

My college experience has been an integral part in all aspects of personal development. The University of Virginia's academic excellence makes the classroom settings very competitive, yet incredibly productive. It has taught me to be even more motivated and organized than I was in high school. As well helping to shape my scholastic interests, coming to the east coast for college from Oregon provided a noticeable culture shock. Since my first year, I have been successful in adapting to this "South-Eastern" culture of UVa as well as been able to keep my own original identity. Because of the intense diversity of this college, I feel confident that I would be able to interact successfully with all types of people from completely different geographical locations. However, the best lesson UVa has taught me, instead of just being able to adapt to initially overwhelming situations, I can positively influence them by consciously putting forth effort, no matter what the circumstances.

The transition is difficult. It's okay if you don't know what you want to do; take your time to figure out what you like first then stick with it. You'll have to work hard in class and at life, but it's really worth it. If you aren't sure about something, try it anyways. The only regret is that you won't know if you would succeeded or liked something afterall. Take risks, the only risk is not taking one. There are so many places to see and things to experience, try to do everything. Even just once. And don't be so angry. Life is full of amazing little surprises, things that make you happy, and things worth experiencing. Enjoy the little things in life, all of them.

Looking back on the first three years of my college experience I wish I could say I had no regrets, it's a motto I try to live by. Unfortunately the first years had it's ups and downs. First I would have decided against coming to school with a long distance relationship. Sometimes they work, but other times they don't and in my situation it kept me from being as social with other people as I would have been if I'd been single. Second I told myself coming into college that I didn't need to work as hard as I did in high school, the words Cs and Bs get degrees rang in my head. However, after graduating valedictorian and receiving disappointing grades my first semester I would want to go back and try harder than I originally did. THankfully I have corrected this thinking and have already begun to lift my gpa. Besides that the experience has been great, it still has good and bad times, but overall I am happy with my decision.

Saturday, January 30, 2010 Dear High School Senior Fortuna, I am sitting inside my dorm room, trying to stay warm as a snowstorm rages on outside. As I look back after having nearly a year of experience at a university, I have a few pointers to relate to you. First, enjoy that your school provides the required books for classes, because buying and attempting to sell textbooks is quite a financially hurtful experience. Please, I urge you, study more effectively for the Advanced Placement exams! My scores fell short of receiving free college credit that could have fulfilled some general education requirements, which would have left more room to explore courses. You are unlike the majority of seniors who slack off and skip classes. I want to commend you for keeping the momentum going with four AP courses while prioritizing activities. However, I wish for you live in the moment instead of constantly preparing for something. Although I do enjoy my time here, I miss our family. It is regretful that I did not take advantage of my time with them in our comfortable home. Good luck and remember my advice. All my love, College First Year Fortuna